[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 202 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8015-S8016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO THE USS MONTANA COMMITTEE

 Mr. DAINES. Madam, today, I wish to honor the men and women of 
the USS Montana Committee and their notable contributions to our State 
and our Nation in 2018.
  The USS Montana Committee is a group of volunteers from Montana who 
have dedicated themselves to promoting awareness and fostering support 
for the future commissioning of the USS Montana and all those who will 
sail aboard her in defense of our Nation. A Virginia Class nuclear 
fast-attack submarine, the USS Montana will protect carrier and 
expeditionary strike groups, hunt and destroy enemy ships, and conduct 
strategic national security missions around the globe. We wait with 
great anticipation as her 2020 commissioning quickly approaches.
  Montana has a proud heritage of military service. Some 3,500 Active-
Duty servicemembers currently serve at Malmstrom Air Force Base in 
Great Falls, and another 4,500 citizen-soldiers serve in the National 
Guard and Reserve at various locations across the State. Montana also 
proudly boasts the highest percentage of veterans per capita in the 
contiguous United States. Beyond the borders of our landlocked home, 
more than 2,200 U.S. Navy sailors currently call Montana home, adding 
134 new Montanans to their ranks in the past 12 months.
  Once she is commissioned, the USS Montana will be the second U.S. 
Navy warship to bear our State's namesake. The first, an armored 
cruiser, AC 13, was commissioned 1908 and served with distinction in 
World War I. In fact, her keel was laid 112 years ago this week on 
December 15, 1906. The bell from that ship is currently on display in 
the lobby of the University of Montana's Adams Center. It has a legacy 
of its own, playing a prominent role in one of the oldest college 
football rivalries in the nation.
  2018 has proven to be a banner year for the USS Montana, her crew, 
and her network of volunteers in Montana. In May, we celebrated the 
laying of her keel, a proud naval tradition and one of the most 
significant milestones in the ship's construction prior to delivery. 
The celebration incorporated a number of Montana themes and traditions, 
including a Native Blackfeet blessing by Mariah Gladstone of Kalispell. 
We were also introduced to her command leadership team: commanding 
officer, CDR Michael Delaney; executive officer, LCDR Jeffrey Kahn; and 
chief of the boat, SCPO Michael Dassau. We even got a look at the 
ship's preliminary emblem, which incorporates strong symbolism of the 
State, the submarine force, and the naval service. The ship also 
enjoyed prominent recognition on the cover of the 2018 Montana Voter 
Information Pamphlet distributed statewide in preparation for the 
midterm elections.
  The USS Montana Committee was proudly represented and facilitated 
these key events by raising awareness and funding across the state. 
Over the course of the year, the committee held events in Butte, 
Missoula, Helena, Columbia Falls, Kalispell, Billings, Colstrip, 
Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, Great Falls, and Glasgow. In September, 
the committee facilitated a statewide tour with the commanding officer, 
with stops in Billings, Helena, Great Falls, and Missoula. These 
efforts have made great strides in fostering a strong and enduring 
relationship between the State of Montana and the U.S. Navy.
  In recognition of these and other notable accomplishments, I ask that 
the following names who have volunteered for the USS Montana Committee 
be entered into the Record.
  The Founding Members and other voting members of the Steering Group: 
Craig Anderson of Billings, Duane Ankney of Colstrip, Doug Averill of 
Bigfork, Leo Berry of Helena, Mike Halligan of Missoula, Bill Leininger 
of Bigfork, Brian Lipscomb of Polson, Greg MacDonald of Billings, 
Marilyn Olson of Lewistown, Sarah Swanson Partridge of Glasgow, Curtis 
Pohl of Butte, Gary Purdy of Columbia Falls, Marisa Robertson of Havre, 
Bonnie Simon of Plentywood, Steven Stahlberg of Kalispell, Monty Wallis 
of Billings, Bill Whitsitt of Bigfork, and Darren Wilkins of Bozeman.
  Honorary Members: the Honorable Marc Racicot, Former Governor of 
Montana, the Honorable Stan Stevens, Former Governor of Montana, and 
RADM George E. Voelker, USN (Ret.), First operational commander, USS 
Helena, SSN 725.
  Committee Members: Kelly Addy of Bigfork, Wade & Gee Gee Allred of 
Bigfork, Chase Anderson of Laurel, Chris Aymes of Kalispell, Liz 
Bangerter of Helena, David & Dana Bennett of Missoula, Calvin Beringer 
of Kalispell, Dennis Berklund of Bigfork, Richard & Marilou Berklund of 
Formerly of Shepherd, Carol Bishop of Huson, David Blade of Helena, Rex 
Boller of Lakeside, Col. Frank Borman of Billings, Lane & Rachel Bos of 
Bozeman, Donald C. Bost of Lewistown, Michael Bower of Billings, 
Jennifer Brien of Formerly of Kalispell.
  Katie Brien of Formerly of Kalispell, Bob & Sue Brown of Whitefish, 
Thomas & Gayle Butler of Deer Lodge, John & Cynthia Cannon of Bigfork, 
Charles Carroll of Billings, Bill & Valerie Caton of Laurel, Nick 
Chiechi of St. Marie, Doug & Cindy Coats of Kila, Beth Cohen of 
Billings, Stuart & Anita Cole of Bigfork, Mayor Wilmot Collins of 
Helena, Stuart & Anita Cole of Bigfork, Wayne Connell of Great Falls,

[[Page S8016]]

Tamara & Joseph Crismore of Libby, Ron & Shelly Davis of Butte, Paul 
Dragu of Havre, Timothy Dralle of Helena, Dan Eastman of Polson, Dan 
Ellison of Helena, John Emeigh of Butte.
  Victoria Emmons of Missoula, Scott Fisher of Columbia Falls, Aaron & 
Jessica Flint of Billings, Attorney General Tim & Karen Fox of Clancy, 
Christopher Gartrell of Formerly of Manhattan and Bozeman, Raymond G. 
Gavlak The 3rd of Stevensville, Greg & Susan Gianforte of Bozeman, Mark 
Gilbertson of Formerly of Kalispell, Maury Graham of Glasgow, Ray 
Godfrey of Bigfork, Gary & Peach Graeff of Bigfork, Jack Griffith of 
Lakeside, Chris & Francine Hagar of Bigfork, Dave & Karen Helmrick of 
Troy, Jason & Jamie Hildenstab of Helena, Joe & Julia Hill of Formerly 
of Ennis, Kristen Inbody of Great Falls, James Irwin of Sweetgrass.
  Keith Johnson of Twin Bridges, Kristin Jacobson of Missoula, Tate 
Jones of Missoula, Max Kalafat of Formerly of Great Falls, Cari Kent of 
Great Falls, David & Tamara Kiehl of Bigfork, Roger Knoell of Butte, 
Jay Lamb of Formerly of Billings, Michael Lawson of Butte, Mark & 
Analyn Lee of Bigfork, Terry Lodmell of Malta, Dale & Kathy Longfellow 
of Hobson, Lori & David Lynch of Billings, Dan & Mary Carol Marcus of 
Bigfork, James Mariska of Billings, Grant Mayer of Helena, James 
McGimpsey of Helena, Pete Mckinley of Helena, Ron & Jessie Merwin of 
Polson, Cody Miles of Havre.
  Steve & Lee Miller of Dayton, Todd Morgan of Missoula, Bob & Penni 
Nance of Billings, Jack Neergaard of Bozeman, Wayne Newton of Rollins, 
Robert Nieuwenhuyse of Havre, Bob & Kim Nystuen of Lakeside, Tom 
O'Connor of Bozeman, Jody Olson of Havre, John & Marilyn Olson of 
Sidney, Carlene A. & Darrell W. Orr of Libby, Kevin Oster of Miles 
City, Jon Ottenbacher of Miles City, Robbi Perry of Kalispell, Gwenna 
Peters of Billings, Carla Peterson of Billings, Debbie Peterson of 
Billings, Bob Pfouts of Huson.
  Jim & Annie Porter of Belt, Chuck & Linda Ream of Bigfork, VDM (Ret) 
Rodney Rempt of Big Sky, David & Kathy Roberts of Kalispell, Paul 
Robitaille of Bozeman, Char Ross of Great Falls, Peggy Salitros of 
Formerly of Colstrip, Mike Schauf of Missoula, Harlan & Judith Schwan 
of Kalispell, Peter Scott of Bozeman, David Semrau of Kalispell, Jim & 
Jean Senst of Great Falls, Gayle Shanahan of Helena, Troy Shockley of 
Helena, Lee Shubert of Helena, John Sisson of Colstrip, Howard & Angie 
Skjervem of Helena, Brad & Cindy Skramstad of Kalispell.
  Steve & Cheri Sloan of Kalispell, Bernie & Thedra Slogotski of 
Bigfork, Jim Smith of Helena, Tom & Irene Snyder of Bigfork, Arnold 
Sonsteng of Formerly of Billings and Wolf Point, Leigh Haislip Spencer 
of Great Falls, Ernie & Anna Steiner of Bigfork, Larry Strizich of 
Great Falls, Peter Sullivan of Helena, Tom & Toot Sward of Bigfork, 
Amber Swindler of Glasgow, Rolf Tandberg of Missoula, MG (Ret) Paul & 
Muffin Vallely of Bigfork, Craig Wagner of Bigfork, Melville (Mel) 
Walters, III of Stevensville, Chris Walthall of Bigfork.
  Aaron Ward of Townsend, Kirk & Angelina Waren of Butte, Arthur Wayne 
of Missoula, James Wegener of Kalispell, Monte Weisser of Kalispell, 
Beau & Holly Wielkoszewski of Bigfork, Bernie Windauer of Kalispell, 
Barry & Pixie Wirth of Lindbergh Lake, Chip & Barb Youlden of Billings, 
Grant & Mary Zerbe of Frazer, and Ryan & Lola Zinke of 
Whitefish.

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